Kelly Clarkson "Meaning of Life" Album Review

Oh yeah, this is one I’ve been pretty excited for. It is time for my review of Kelly Clarkson’s new album “Meaning of Life.” I’m sure Kelly Clarkson needs no introduction: the first American Idol winner has led a hugely successful career since, releasing 7 albums (3 US-chart toppers) and a large number of chart-topping singles. And over the years, I’ve enjoyed a large number of her songs, from “Miss Independent” to “Behind These Hazel Eyes” to “Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You),” and of course, the beautiful “Piece by Piece” (the Idol version, not the original version). And the few I listed don’t even include megahits like “A Moment Like This,” “Breakaway,” “Since U Been Gone,” and “Because of You.” Kelly has made the most of her American Idol win, and she’s had a lot of success since. So, on her 8th album, does she keep it up? Let’s check that out, song-by-song:

A Minute (Intro): I’m not usually into super-short tracks, but for the very short time this plays for, it really hooks me in! I actually really hope Kelly turns this into a full song because if she does, I’m telling you, it would be a hit!

Love So Soft: I love the hook on this one! Kelly also once again shows that she is a vocal powerhouse, and the track as a whole is really fun! I really enjoyed this one, a great start to the album!

Heat: The beat is really fun on this one, Kelly’s vocals are once again really powerful, and I love the hook on this one! I can see this one getting a few replays from me, it’s a really good track!

Meaning of Life: I really like the instrumental on this song, the verses are really fun, and the hook is really memorable. Kelly reminds us here that her vocals are amazing, and I like the lyrical content (it’s really nice seeing her finally realize that, after talking about being alone for a while, she’s so much happier now that she has someone special in her life). Another track I can see myself replaying quite a bit!

Move You: I like Kelly’s lyrical content that talks about wanting to move someone emotionally, and the beat is really strong. I wasn’t sure what to think throughout the first half, but once we get to the third verse, the amount of passion on Kelly’s vocals and the instrumental melody kick in and make the song so much stronger! There’s not much of a hook on this track, but it’s still a really enjoyable song I think I’ll end up replaying quite a bit!

Whole Lotta Woman: I’m getting some Bruno Mars vibes on here! There are some really clever lyrics here, a LOT of passion and soul on this, and I think this is a good “anthem” for women that might need a bit of confidence. Really great track, I had a lot of fun with this one!

Medicine: The hook on this track is one of the album’s best! And even beyond the hook, Kelly’s extremely passionate and beautiful vocals on this track make it really memorable! The beat is also really catchy, head-nodding stuff as well! This is gonna end up being a replay-button breaker!

Cruel: Slowing things down a bit here, this is one of those tracks that put a smile on my face that just wouldn’t come off! Kelly’s vocals, the beat, the hook, everything, just wow! This track is beautiful, another replay-button breaker!

Didn’t I: Kelly’s performance on this track, once again, is really fun and charismatic, the hook is really fun, and I like the more electronic drum-beat on this track. I wouldn’t call it my favorite on the album, but it’s still a pretty fun track overall!

Would You Call That Love: The instrumental melody and beat on this one is really fun (I especially like the way that it starts), Kelly’s vocals are beautiful as usual, and the hook is really passionate and memorable. Another really great track!

I Don’t Think About You: The piano melody on this is very reminiscent of “A Moment Like This,” but this song does more than enough to set itself apart, largely thanks to Kelly’s vocals (which have obviously matured since that first single) and the beautiful, really memorable hook! Not my favorite on the album, but it’s a really strong track that might even grow on me in the future.

Slow Dance: This one has a really light, really nice instrumental, a really solid hook, and the lyrics are also really interesting (I like how it talks about seeing through someone, but still wanting to teach them how to take things slowly). Another one that isn’t one of my favorites, but it’s a really good song that, no pun intended, would be pretty fun to slow dance to.

Don’t You Pretend: A track that feels familiar in the best of ways: it’s got a really beautiful instrumental sound, a fun hook, and some more really strong, passionate vocals from Kelly. She’s been hitting the ball out of the park with a lot of the tracks on this album, and she does it again on this track.

Go High: Ending off this album, we have a track that is apparently inspired by Michelle Obama’s quote “when they go low, we go high.” The track is really upbeat, fun, and passionate, and motivational. Given the subject matter, I think it’s really appropriate to finish off the album with this one, and I think it’s a really strong ending that’ll probably end up growing on me a bit more in the future.

Overall, I walked into this album very excited, and I’m glad to report that the album more than delivered on expectations! American Idol’s first winner shows us that she’s still got it, and her beautiful vocals and ability to create really memorable hooks really shows on this album. There’s a lot of memorable tracks on this album, and I think Kelly continues to show us that she can keep up with the times and make really fun, emotional, passionate, beautiful music.

And as they say on American Idol, Kelly, it’s a very big “yes” from me!

Favorite tracks: A Minute (Intro), Love So Soft, Heat, Meaning of Life, Move You, Whole Lotta Woman, Medicine, Cruel, Would You Call That Love, Don't You Pretend

Least favorite tracks: Didn't I (if I really had to pick one)

Rating: Excellent

Ty Dolla $ign "Beach House 3" Album Review

Alright, look, Kelly Clarkson just released a new album and I can’t wait to listen to it, but before I get on that, I wanted to give you a review of the new Ty Dolla $ign album “Beach House 3.” I can’t say I listen to Ty that much, but it seems like, whenever he puts out a huge single, I end up breaking the replay button on it. Back in 2015, I broke the replay button with “Paranoid” (and later with its remix), and since then, I’ve looped tracks like “Or Nah,” “Saved,” and more recently, “Wavy.” So I don’t listen to each and every one of his songs, but it so happens that when I do, I end up really enjoying them. So, of course, I wanted to check out this new album and see if he can keep up his success. Let’s take a look, shall we?

Famous: Okay, I can’t say I was expecting to hear a light acoustic guitar jam AT ALL on this thing. That said, the apparently John Mayer-assisted track features Ty unplugged, talking about how people just want to be famous, and his vocals are on point, the lyrics are really memorable, and overall, this is a really strong start to the album!

Famous Lies: I’m sure you guys already know how I feel about tracks that end up being a minute or less, and this one, while not bad, is exactly the same. I’m sure it could’ve been pretty decent if it was a full track, but as it is, it just ends too quickly.

Love U Better (ft. Lil Wayne and The-Dream): Really beautiful vocals from Ty and The-Dream on this one! The beat is funky, the track is irresistibly fun, the hook is really memorable, and even Lil Wayne’s verse is really fun! This one’s gonna end up being a replay-button breaker, for sure!

Ex (ft. YG): For some reason, this song reminds me of Bruno Mars’ 24K Magic album. It’s pretty funky, and Ty’s vocals are really strong as always, and the hook is pretty solid, but I’m not too crazy about YG’s feature. A small step backward from the previous track.

Famous Excuses: Another 1-minute or under track that I feel doesn’t even really need to exist on the album in the first place. It just kind of takes away from everything. One minute, I’m jamming out to some replay-button-breaking banger, and the next I’m wondering how some half-baked idea for a track even made it. Actually, with all the weird, unfinished-feeling interludes on here, I can’t help but wonder if Ty was listening to The Life of Pablo while making this thing (which would be a huge coincidence, since that was my last review).

Droptop in the Rain (ft. Tory Lanez): The hook on this track is pretty fun, if slightly repetitive, but the verses aren’t nearly as strong overall. And I don’t know what it is, but I’m not really crazy about Tory Lanez’s vocals on this track. Not a bad track, but I don’t think I’ll be revisiting this one too much.

Don’t Judge Me (ft. Future and Swae Lee): The beat on this track is really fun, and I really like the hook a lot on this one! And I’m not usually crazy about Future, but his short verse on this one is pretty enjoyable. And, of course, I can’t go without mentioning the really strong feature performance from my man Swae Lee of Rae Sremmurd. And even though the outro changes sound really weirdly, it doesn’t detract from what is one of the album’s stronger songs.

Dawsin’s Break (ft. Jeremih): Unfortunately, we follow up on one of the album’s stronger songs with a track that’s a bit underwhelming. Ty’s vocals are great, as usual, but unfortunately, the hook is really boring. Jeremih is also featured on this track, but his talents are not used to their fullest potential on this one. All in all, a pretty forgettable track overall.

Don’t Sleep on Me (ft. Future and 24hrs): This is a track that might grow on me in the future. The hook is kinda fun, and Ty’s performance on the first verse is pretty fun. I’m not as crazy about Future’s performance on this one (are we shocked?), but he has his moments on this track, same goes for fellow featured artist 24hrs. This one could end up being a pretty fun one with a few more listens, but I need to let it grow on me a bit.

Stare (ft. Pharrell Williams and Wiz Khalifa): Pharrell’s performance on the hook is interesting, Ty’s vocals and flow on the verse are strong, and Wiz Khalifa’s verse is pretty fun as well. I don’t love the song overall, but I think it might grow on me in time.

Famous Friends: 38 seconds of what could’ve been a banger. Moving on.

So Am I (ft. Skrillex and Damian Marley): For an album called “Beach House 3,” this one feels the most “beachy” to me. And all in all, this Skrillex-assisted track is one of the album’s best! The beat is really catchy, I love the instrumental melody, and Ty’s vocals are on point, as always. Damian Marley’s verse is also really fun. I think I’m gonna be looping this one in the future.

Lil Favorite (ft. MadeinTYO): This one sounds familiar to me, but I can’t put my finger on why. Even so, I love the instrumental on this one, the beat is really strong, the hook is catchy, and as always, I love Ty’s vocals. This also features an artist named MadeinTYO, who I’ve never heard of, but his verse is fun, too. I think this will be a replay-button breaker, too.

In Your Phone (ft. Lauren Jauregui): While the beat on this one is fun, and Ty’s vocals are great (as are featured artist Lauren Jauregui of Fifth Harmony), I don’t find the hook to be that memorable on this one. Nothing too bad, just not as memorable as some of Ty’s better singles.

All the Time: I liked the way this one started, and the song is helped by Ty’s nice vocals and a decent hook. While I don’t love the song, I think it might end up growing on me, and it could even end up becoming a favorite of mine because it gives me some 2000’s R&B vibes that I really like. Definitely a pretty fun one.

Famous Amy: 36 seconds of what could’ve been put at the beginning of the next track.

Side Effects: Great lead-in from “Famous Amy,” a really fun beat, and a catchy hook make this one pretty enjoyable overall. Definitely one of my favorites from the album, really think I’ll come back to it quite a bit in the future.

Famous Last Words: Again, why is this even its own track? It could’ve been the beginning of the next one!

Message In A Bottle: This one is really boring to me. Ty’s vocals are nice, but his overall performance lacks the charisma and energy of the previous tracks. I like the attempt at going for something slower here, but this is a case of “good idea on paper, bad idea in practice.”

Nate Howard Intro: A motivational speech from poet and professional speaker Nate Howard. While I probably won’t revisit this too much, I’m a sucker for some spoken-word poetry, so I respect that Ty ended on this one. I can’t say it’s one of my favorites, of course, but again, I respect the decision to stop there.

Overall, I have to say I didn’t love this album. Vocally, Ty remains as strong as ever, and instrumentally, thanks to guys like Hitmaka, DJ Mustard, and Mike-WILL Made It, the production here is pretty solid, but unfortunately, this album was too much of a mixed bag. There are a few tracks on here that are definitely replay-button breakers that I’m sure I’ll be revisiting in the future, but unfortunately, there are also several unremarkable tracks on here, and the many interludes on here feel like one of two things: either an unnecessary portion that could’ve just been tacked on to another track or an example of missed potential. Ty tries a couple of different musical styles on this album, but unfortunately, he doesn’t succeed at all of them, and the result is an album that is too inconsistent. Definitely some tracks I’ll go back to on here, but also some that I’d like to forget about as soon as possible.

DOLLA $IGN!

Favorite tracks: Famous, Love U Better, Don't Judge Me, So Am I, Lil Favorite, Side Effects

Least favorite tracks: Dawsin's Break, Message In A Bottle, any of the "Famous _____" interludes

Rating: Okay

Kanye West "The Life of Pablo" Album Review

I’m a year late and, again, this is just out of complete curiosity, but I decided that I wanted to take a look at Kanye West’s 2016 album “The Life of Pablo.” We all know Kanye at this point, and regardless of whether or not you like him, there’s no denying that he’s a very successful artist. I was curious about this release because, for me, it felt like it flew by the wayside a little bit. Maybe it was the fact that it was a streaming-only album, maybe he didn’t hype up the singles a lot, I have no idea, but it felt like this one just dropped but didn’t really make itself known to me. That, and I’ve been hearing a lot about the album being really unfinished and purposely messy, so I’m fascinated to see if that actually works in its favor. So, let’s go:

Ultralight Beam: I like Kanye’s vocals on the hook on this one, and I can see what people say about the messiness actually being a good thing here. The-Dream’s vocals are solid, Kelly Price’s verse is really strong, Kirk Franklin’s outro is great, and of course, Chance the Rapper’s feature is amazing. I actually had a really fun time with this song, and while it feels extremely “stream-of-consciousness,” it’s so interesting and I just feel like I want to go back to this more after the review.

Father Stretch My Hands, Pt. 1: The hook on this one is pretty catchy, as is Kid Cudi’s feature, and I think Kanye’s verse, while not his strongest, is still pretty solid. It is really short and kind of half-baked (again, that’s the point), but while it lasts, it’s a good song. I think it might even grow on me in the future.

Pt. 2: Very different sound from Pt. 1 (I mean, this one samples “Panda” by Desiigner, and it features moments from Desiigner’s song throughout), and while Kanye adds some interesting things throughout (his verse is particularly strong), I can’t help but feel like he could’ve just called this “Panda (Remix),” because that’s essentially what it is. And again, it ends really suddenly and awkwardly, though I do think this is again kind of interesting, in that it feels very “stream-of-consciousness” for Kanye. I don’t know, as much of a half-baked knock-off as it is, I feel like I might end up going back to this song in the future. That’s weird to say, but there’s something really interesting about it.

Famous: This was the song that riled up a lot of people (“…me and Taylor might still have sex / Why? I made that bitch famous.”), and I think it’s the most “commercial” of the songs here. Rihanna’s vocals on the hook are solid, and Kanye’s verses are pretty solid, but I honestly don’t see myself going back to this track in the future, oddly enough. It’s a solid song, but even though it’s arguably the album’s most popular track, I don’t feel as much of a desire to go back to it, unfortunately.

Feedback: Kanye’s flow on this one is pretty strong, and the hook is really catchy on this one. It’s extremely short, and again, rather unfinished, but it’s really fun and really interesting overall. I just feel like it’s something I’ll want to go back to, because it’s like, oddly hypnotic.

Low Lights: This song doesn’t even have Kanye on it, it’s an uncredited appearance from Kelly Price. This one is very spiritual and booming, but it’s really short and really messy. In fact, I’d honestly say it’s hardly even a song. If not for Kelly’s solid performance and lyrics, this probably would’ve been under the list of “least favorite tracks” for this album, but I think those two things alone helped save this. That said, I won’t be revisiting this track anytime soon.

Highlights: I think the hook on this is really catchy and Young Thug’s feature on the hook is pretty solid. Kanye’s performance on the verse is really strong as well, and The-Dream’s vocal performance on the outro is good. I really like this track, it’s definitely one of my favorites on the album.

Freestyle 4: Kanye is given the chance to let loose on this one, but unfortunately, his performance on this one is just not nearly as fun or memorable as some of the other tracks on here. Desiigner is here as well, and I’ll be honest, I was kind of digging his verse, but then, of course, since it’s been this way throughout the album, it cuts off before he even gets a chance to really do anything. This is a rare case where the messy, unfinished nature of the album works against the song.

I Love Kanye: Even though it’s only 44 seconds and it’s a really strange interlude, I actually think this track is pretty clever, in that it’s Kanye being really conscious, addressing the ideology of him loving himself too much, and talking about his criticisms. And for that, I can say this track, as short and possibly memetic as it is, is pretty good overall.

Waves: I like the instrumental on this one, and I really like Chris Brown’s hook as well. Kanye takes a bit more of a back seat here, but his performance is not bad overall. It’s rather empty, and it feels far shorter than it is, but I feel like I’ll be going back to this for sure.

FML: Kanye’s performance and flow on the first verse of this track are really bland, boring, repetitive, and unmemorable overall, and while the second verse is much better, it’s hard to trudge through the first verse to even get there. And while I do like The Weeknd’s vocals on the hook, I don’t think this is one of the strongest hooks he’s made. Definitely one of the album’s weaker tracks.

Real Friends: The beat on this one is pretty solid, I like Kanye’s performance on the verses, and I really like Ty Dolla $ign’s feature throughout the track. I initially didn't consider this one of my favorites on the album, but it's definitely grown on me. Very solid song.

Wolves: I really like the way this one starts, and I like Kanye’s hook on this one a lot. While the verse can be a bit long, Kanye’s overly autotuned vocals are actually pretty enjoyable. Vic Mensa’s vocals on the bridge are really great, too, and Sia’s surprising appearance is pretty solid, too. And even though I’m not usually crazy about “empty space,” the instrumental outro on this track is great. This is another track that I really like.

Frank’s Track: This was originally going to be the outro to “Wolves,” but it was cut and made into a track in and of itself. I’m glad it was cut from “Wolves,” as the ending of that song was already strong enough, and while this is really short, I’m glad it still made it on the album, because Frank Ocean’s vocals are really great on this one. Initially, I didn't consider it a "favorite," but as I've become an even bigger Frank Ocean fan, I can't get enough of it in spite of its short length. Frank's vocals are Heaven-sent.

Siiiiiiiiilver Surffffeeeeer Intermission: A voicemail to Kanye from Max B and French Montana. This…was a thing…that somehow made it onto the album…NEXT!

30 Hours: While Kanye’s flow on this track is solid, there’s not much of a hook on this one. Still, there are a few pretty clever lyrics on this track, and while it’s certainly not my favorite on the album (it’s a bit too long and boring), it’s a decent track overall. Oh, and Andre 3000’s on here. Just thought you guys would like to know that.

No More Parties in LA: Kanye’s hook on this track is not his strongest, but for me, this song was saved entirely by the performances. Kendrick Lamar’s verse is awesome, and Kanye’s verse is pretty damn strong too. The song does feel a bit too long, but it’s a pretty solid track that's grown on me since my initial listen to the album.

Facts (Charlie Heat version): Kanye’s interpolation of “Jumpman” by Drake and Future feels like a diss on Nike, and ultimately, it stales out way too quickly. It’s too repetitive and not nearly as fun as some of the other tracks on this album.

Fade: This one has a pretty fun beat overall, I like Ty Dolla $ign’s vocals on this feature, and I’ll say the same about Post Malone’s vocals on his verse. Kanye hardly appears on this track, so it’s hard to really grade his “performance” when he only has a couple lines. I don’t know if I’ll be revisiting this track a lot, but I think the “stream of consciousness” thing works pretty well on this track.

Saint Pablo: This final track on the album feels really personal, and I like how Kanye starts talking more about his insecurities on this one. Sampha is featured on this track, and I like his vocals a lot. Even if the track is pretty long, it actually feels like a fully finished, organized, clean track. It’s a really good song, and it’s definitely a great end to the album.

Overall, I can say that this album was pretty enjoyable. It’s really unfinished, messy, and unpolished overall, but for the most part, that works in its favor and makes it kind of hypnotic. Several tracks are so unpolished and incomplete that you kind of just want to go back and experience them again. It’s not like it’s “unfinished for the sake of shock factor,” it’s Kanye consciously releasing something really sloppy for the sake of the art. It’s not perfect: it doesn’t end as well as it started, and sometimes the sloppiness of it works against a few of the tracks, but overall, I had a pretty good time with this album.

I’d ask what you guys thought of this album, but YOU AIN’T GOT THE ANSWERS, SWAY!

Favorite tracks: Ultralight Beam, Feedback, Highlights, Waves, Real Friends*, Wolves, Frank's Track*, No More Parties In LA*, Saint Pablo

Least favorite tracks: Freestyle 4, FML, Siiiiiiiiilver Surffffeeeeer Intermission, Facts (Charlie Heat version)

Rating: Good

(*An asterisk next to a “favorite track” indicates that the track wasn’t initially one of my “favorite tracks” when I first wrote the review. If a track has an asterisk next to it, it means the song wasn’t initially a favorite of mine, but it grew on me, and the text for the song may have been edited to more properly reflect that.)

Niall Horan "Flicker" Album Review

Alrighty, another one I didn’t think I’d be doing, it’s time for a review of Niall Horan’s new album “Flicker.” Yes, that Niall Horan. The one that was in One Direction. He has a new solo album, and even though I know absolutely NOTHING of him, I figured it would be nice to give the album a listen and see if his solo work is as good as One Direction’s group work. So, as always, let’s go song-by-song and break this down:

On the Loose: Already gives me some flashbacks to some One Direction songs, which kind of worries me for the rest of the album, because I hope it’s not “One Direction’s music but this time it’s just Niall.” His performance is nice, though, and the song has a pretty catchy beat, even though the hook is kind of boring.

This Town: I like the lighter, stripped-down guitar melody on this track (kinda reminds me of “Hey There Delilah” by Plain White T’s), the hook is really sweet, and while it’s probably nothing you haven’t heard before, it’s really sweet, enjoyable, and easy to get into. As familiar as it is, I actually really like this one! I can see it being a replay-button breaker!

Seeing Blind (ft. Maren Morris): Niall tries his hand at a country-like song on this track, even choosing to feature country star Maren Morris on this one. And overall, the beat is pretty fun, both of their performances are solid, and the hook isn’t bad. Might not be a replay-button breaker, but I do think it’s a pretty good song!

Slow Hands: This one tries to be a bit more edgy/sexy than previous tracks, and regardless of whether it succeeds, it’s really funky, catchy, and fun overall. Niall’s performance is strong (I really like how he sings on the verses a lot), the hook is fun, and the beat is pretty catchy. Another one that I really like, and might end up breaking the replay button on!

Too Much to Ask: Back to the lighter ones, this one is pretty emotional, and it has a really strong hook and a great performance from Niall. I’m not sure that I love the verses as much as the hook, but I like the instrumental and I feel like this song might grow on me in the future.

Paper Houses: While I like the instrumental on this one, and I think Niall delivers a nice performance, I don’t really think the song is very exciting. There are a few decent lyrics on here, but overall, it’s just kind of boring to me.

Since We’re Alone: I like the beat on this one, and the hook is really strong. Niall’s performance is, once again, very nice, and luckily, the verses are as fun as the hook on this track. I really like this one!

Flicker: Once again, I like the lighter guitar melody on this one, I liked the overall subdued sound of this track, and the hook is pretty solid. I probably won’t break the replay button on this one, but all in all, this is a pretty good song.

Fire Away: This one feels kind of boring, from the rather generic instrumental melody to the forgettable hook and the relative lack of charisma in Niall’s voice, this is definitely one of the weaker tracks on the album. It’s not that it’s “bad,” it’s just really bland and forgettable.

You and Me: The guitar melody and overall instrumental sound on this track are really strong, I like Niall’s kind of deeper voice on the verses, and the hook is really nice. This is a really great song that I hope to listen to more after this review, and seeing as how this is the last song on the non-Deluxe Edition of the album, it’s a good way to end off if you happened to get the non-Deluxe Edition.

On My Own: Our first bonus track has a really vibrant and exciting instrumental melody, a solid performance from Niall, and a pretty memorable hook. I’m not as big on the verses on this track, but all in all, it’s a pretty fun song overall.

Mirrors: The next of the three bonus tracks isn’t terribly exciting, and it does kind of feel like an acoustic version of a previous One Direction song. The hook is okay, but the verses aren’t really that memorable. It’s competently made overall, but it’s nothing too special.

The Tide: Our final bonus track is very upbeat, and it’s got another really solid performance from Niall. The verses are pretty solid, and the hook is good as well. I won’t break the replay button on this one, and again, it does sound familiar, but I think it’s a solid song and an appropriate ending to the Deluxe Edition of the album.

Overall, I can say I’m pleasantly surprised with this album. I didn’t know what to expect out of this, but I think it was pretty solid overall. I worried at first that it was gonna turn out to be “One Direction music but just Niall,” but I think he showed on this album that he found his own voice and his own style, and he delivers some pretty solid performances across this. The instrumentals are also really fun, too, and many of his hooks are really memorable. I don’t think it’s absolutely amazing, and some people might be turned away by the fact that a lot of it sounds kind of familiar and that he kind of talks about a lot of the same things throughout the album, but all in all if you loved One Direction back in the day (and, for that matter, if you still like them now), you’ll really enjoy this. As for me? Well, I’ve never really been a “Directioner,” but I think their music is pretty good and their library features some pretty strong, memorable takeaway tracks. Same applies here: I don’t love it, but as a whole, it’s good, and there are some really good takeaway songs from this album.

Oh, by the way, don’t call him Neil. It’s Niall. Just reminding everyone.

Favorite tracks: This Town, Slow Hands, Since We're Alone, You and Me

Least favorite tracks: Paper Houses, Fire Away

Rating: Good

Belly "Mumble Rap" Mixtape Review

Alright, this is something I wanted to review just out of extreme curiosity. It’s time for a review of Belly’s new mixtape “Mumble Rap.” My experience with Belly begins and ends with “he’s part of XO, he and The Weeknd are like brothers, and they did ‘Might Not’ together, which was pretty good.” Other than that, I know little of him. The first time I saw The Weeknd, Belly opened for him and didn’t leave a lasting impression, but the second time I saw him, Belly came out during The Weeknd’s setlist to be a part of “Might Not.” The Weeknd was hyping up this new tape on his Instagram, so I have to see if it’s worthwhile. Here we go:

Immigration To The Trap: Alright, Belly’s got some flow! I see why The Weeknd pipes him up so much. This was a really fun track that, despite being very short, was still an impressive showcase of Belly’s rapping abilities and clever lyricism. A good start to the tape for sure.

Make A Toast: I love the instrumental on this one, and once again, Belly’s flow is really great. For some reason, this gives me some good throwbacks to the rap music I used to hear on the radio as a kid. It’s a really enjoyable track overall.

The Come Down Is Real Too: Once again, I’m getting some old-school vibes from this one. This one is really fun, Belly’s flow is still strong, the instrumental is exciting and enjoyable, and the hook is really catchy. Really strong track.

Mumble Rap: The opening to this track is honestly kinda creepy. I also find it really interesting that the only “mumbling” in this song is on the hook. While said hook is not particularly “amazing” (I feel like that was kind of the point), this track changes things up a lot from the others and feels more “modern.” That doesn’t stop Belly from delivering another strong performance on this track. Another pretty fun track overall, even though it’s not my favorite so far.

Lullaby: The intro of this one is really interesting, and the song as a whole feels a lot more emotional and personal to Belly. Lyrically, it feels like it really came from the heart, and it feels like there was a lot of passion on this track. And the result is a track that’s probably the best on this mixtape so far.

Bobby Brown: A more upbeat track that has a decent hook and some good flow from Belly, but ultimately, I don’t feel like I’ll want to listen to this one much after this review. It’s upbeat, but I don’t think it’s as fun as some of the other tracks on this tape.

Papyrus: Belly has a lot of fun with the lyrics on this one, and while it’s really short, it’s got some solid flow and a fun, solid beat overall. I wouldn’t call it my favorite track on the tape, but it’s a good one for sure.

Alcantara (ft. Pusha T): Another slower track, but one with some more fun lyrics and good flow from Belly. Pusha T is also featured on this track, and his verse is also pretty fun. The song ends rather abruptly, but kinda creepily, and in a really good way. I like this track.

Clean Edit: Remember how I said that the last track ended creepily? Well, the way this one leads in from that track really adds to the creepiness. And I really like his track a lot largely thanks to the subject matter. Belly performed at the Nathan Phillips Square in Toronto and received criticism because he used profanity at what was considered a “family-friendly” event, even though his performance occurred past midnight and that organizers were made aware that he would be using such words. Here, he talks about how he will not apologize for his actions, and he calls out the media for making him seem like the bad guy and being quick to report negative things about him while ignoring him when he gets nominated for an Oscar/Grammy Award. He uses this to make a track with great flow and really awesome lyricism. I enjoyed this one a lot.

P.O.P.: I actually remember hearing this when Belly opened for The Weeknd back in May. I was a little horrified because P.O.P. stands for “power of pussy” and hearing him yell that while being with my female cousin at the concert made us both say “oh my.” Hearing the master track instead of the loud version is a lot better, in that it sounds more subdued and less “shouty.” And as mortified as I was of the hook when I first heard it, I gotta admit it’s kinda catchy. And Belly’s flow and lyricism on the verses make this one for me to resist.

All Alone: As I’ve said countless times before on this review, Belly’s flow is really strong and his lyricism is really solid. I also really like the extremely-autotuned vocals on the outro, and while this track as a whole is really short, it’s a fun, really solid end to the mixtape.

Overall, I’m actually very impressed with this tape! When The Weeknd posted about this on his Instagram, I was a little nervous that The Weeknd was just trying to be nice and support his XO boy, but even if that was the case, it’s a good thing he was so supportive. This tape is a lot of fun, the lyricism is really strong, Belly’s flow is rock-solid, and I find it really interesting that Belly called this “Mumble Rap” kind of ironically since there’s really little to no “mumble rapping” to speak of on this thing. If anything, in my eyes, quite a bit of it feels pretty old-school. Hearing this gave me some flashbacks to the rap songs that used to play on the radio when I was a kid (I couldn’t help but think about “Gold Digger” by Kanye West & Jamie Foxx, for some reason). And in this case, sounding more old-school really worked, and it made this a really strong listen. I honestly hope Belly gets a bit more attention in the future because he’s good.

Favorite tracks: Immigration To The Trap, Make A Toast, The Come Down Is Real Too, Lullaby, Alcantara, Clean Edit, P.O.P.

Least favorite track: Bobby Brown

Rating: Excellent

Sam Smith "In The Lonely Hour" Album Review

You guys knew it was coming, it’s time for my review of Sam Smith’s 2014 album “In The Lonely Hour.” Sam Smith is an artist I’m relatively familiar with, and I’ve enjoyed the few songs I’ve heard from him. However, I’m only slightly familiar with some of his singles, so with the recent announcement of his new album “The Thrill of It All,” along with the release of his fantastic new song “Too Good At Goodbyes,” I figured now would be a good time to revisit this album and see how it holds up. So, let’s go:

Money On My Mind: I really like the lyrical content on this one, but I’m not really crazy about the hook on this one, and while Sam’s vocals are pretty good, I feel like this is not one of his best songs.

Good Thing: Once again, I really like the very personal lyrics on this track, but while the lighter sound and tempo of this track is solid, I think the hook is kind of boring. Not a bad song, but I think Sam has done better.

Stay With Me: The song that really helped catapult Sam to popularity is still a really enjoyable song years later. Sam’s performance is really strong, the hook is really beautiful, and as a whole, this one sounds amazing. Really enjoyable track!

Leave Your Lover: While the verses on this track aren’t Sam’s best, I really like the hook on this track a lot. As always, Sam’s performance is also very good. Not my favorite Sam Smith track, but it’s pretty solid overall.

I’m Not the Only One: I know this is a really popular track, but I wasn't initially all that crazy about it. I think it grew on me a lot because of Sam’s very beautiful vocals, and the absolutely fantastic hook. Definitely a really good song.

I’ve Told You Now: The verses are pretty catchy on this one, the beat is head-nodding stuff, and Sam’s very passionate vocals only help make the already-strong hook even better. I really like this one!

Like I Can: Really strong hook, a fantastic performance by Sam, and some really catchy verses make this one of Sam Smith’s better songs. I’ve broken the replay button on this one, and I still find it very enjoyable!

Life Support: Sam brings the goods with his vocals on this track, and his performance is very strong. I first thought the track was a little boring, but the hook really grew on me over time. This one was definitely a grower for me; it's a good showcase of Sam’s vocal skills, and one of the better songs on the album.

Not In That Way: For me, this song succeeds entirely on the shoulders of Sam’s beautiful vocals and strong performance. The verses are fine, and the hook is pretty good, but what really lifts the song is Sam himself. It’s a really enjoyable song.

Lay Me Down: Another one that I feel is lifted entirely by Sam’s vocals. It takes a minute to actually kick in, and while that can often be boring to me, this is a case where I don’t mind it because Sam’s performance is really beautiful. This is a really enjoyable track!

Restart: This is a really upbeat track with a really catchy, fun beat and a pretty strong hook as well. After all the very light, kind of empty tracks on this album, it’s nice that the first Deluxe Edition bonus track is really upbeat and danceable. And it’s really enjoyable as well.

Latch (Acoustic): A lot of people remember the original version of this track, but this acoustic version is, in my opinion, better than the original version. Sam’s vocals, as always, are beautiful, and the hook is much more potent and meaningful when the song is acoustic. The original version? Good. The acoustic version? Incredible.

La La La (Naughty Boy ft. Sam Smith): This is actually a track by Naughty Boy that features Sam Smith (it was made while Sam was still on the come-up), and it’s available on the Deluxe Edition of the album. It’s upbeat and catchy, but also really dark in regards to its lyrics. Even if he sounds a bit raw on this one, Sam’s vocals are strong once again. It’s not my personal favorite track, and I’m not 100% feeling the hook, but it’s not a bad song overall.

Make It to Me: Ending things off, we have another one of my favorite Sam Smith songs. Sure, it’s short, but for the little time it plays for, Sam treats us to some beautiful vocals, a fantastic hook, and lovely instrumentals. A really memorable track, and a great end to the Deluxe Edition of this album.

Overall, I can say I definitely enjoyed this album. It’s extremely light, and some of the tracks on here can be a bit too boring for my tastes, but Sam’s beautiful vocals and consistently strong performances help make up for that. His lyricism is also really strong, and there are quite a few memorable, really enjoyable tracks on here. It’s certainly not the best thing I’ve heard, and it feels like a little bit more effort could’ve been put into the tracks that didn’t end up becoming singles, but all in all, I walked away pretty satisfied with this album and, for the most part, I dug it. It’s not gonna turn me into a diehard fan of his, but it’s certainly a good start.

So, who’s ready for “The Thrill of It All?”

Favorite tracks: Stay With Me, I'm Not The Only One*, I've Told You Now, Like I Can, Life Support*, Not In That Way, Lay Me Down, Restart, Latch (Acoustic), Make It to Me

Least favorite track: Money on My Mind

Rating: Good

(*An asterisk next to a “favorite track” indicates that the track wasn’t initially one of my “favorite tracks” when I first wrote the review. If a track has an asterisk next to it, it means the song wasn’t initially a favorite of mine, but it grew on me, and the text for the song may have been edited to more properly reflect that.)

Alessia Cara "Know-It-All" Album Review

As I mentioned, the next album I plan to review doesn’t release until October 27th, so I’m gonna spend some time catching up on albums I’ve missed. Next up is Alessia Cara’s 2015 album “Know-It-All.” You guys know that I absolutely LOVE Alessia, but I haven’t listened to this album fully. I’m only really familiar with the singles on the album, so I have quite a bit of catching up to do. Let’s see if she can do it big on this album, shall we? Song-by-song, here we go:

Seventeen: I like the lyrics about growing up and wanting to turn the clock back to being 17, Alessia’s vocals are great, the song is upbeat and catchy, and the hook is fantastic. Definitely an awesome start to the album!

Here: This was pretty much the song that first put Alessia on the map, and it’s still a fantastic song! The beat is catchy, Alessia’s performance is beautiful, the hook is really memorable, and I really like the lyrics on this one (as someone who’s naturally awkward and has been kind of antisocial when it comes to parties, I can relate to it quite a bit). Another amazing song!

Outlaws: I like the upbeat sound, the piano track, Alessia’s typically-strong vocal performance, and the pretty solid hook on this one. It did need to grow on me a little bit, but now that it has, I find it to be a really good track.

I’m Yours: This one has a really enjoyable hook, and the lyrics are extremely clever, as they talk about how someone really perfect comes along and ruins your belief that you don’t want a relationship. Alessia says things like “how rude of you, to ruin my miserable, and tell me I’m beautiful,” lines that I find so clever and so meaningful (and slightly relatable). This is another extremely memorable track!

Four Pink Walls: Alessia has some really solid flow on the verses of this track, and as always her vocals are really strong. Her lyrics about how her life changed as a result of her becoming a singer are also really great, and the beat is extremely catchy. I love this song, too!

Wild Things: Another widely known song of Alessia’s features more beautiful vocals, another catchy hook, and a really strong, upbeat instrumental. The lyrics talking about self-acceptance are also really good, too. This is another really fun, really awesome song, and I think I’ll end up breaking the replay button on it.

Stone (ft. Sebastian Kole): A much lighter song, this one is really sweet, from the nice instrumental to the lyrics talking about being someone’s “stone” (a fancy way of saying “being someone’s rock”), and of course, even though I don’t have to, I’ll repeat that Alessia’s vocals are wonderful. She can lift a song with her vocals alone, but even beyond those vocals, these songs are really pretty and all-around enjoyable.

Overdose: In some ways a slightly darker song (in how it relates love to drugs), this song also features some really fun verses that show off Alessia’s good flow, a catchy hook that reminds us of Alessia’s beautiful vocals, and a really solid, enjoyable beat. Another really great song.

Stars: Back to the lighter stuff, this song features a really nice piano melody, some really heartbreaking lyrics about being in love but fearing actually starting a relationship (not kidding, the lyrics almost made me cry, largely because I can relate to them), and of course, Alessia’s beautiful vocals help to perfectly round this song out and really make it incredible.

Scars to Your Beautiful: One of my absolute favorite songs. Amazing instrumental, fantastic vocals from Alessia, an incredible hook, and some incredibly beautiful lyrics about being happy with yourself and understanding that you have natural beauty, this song is absolutely gorgeous. Not only is it the perfect end to the non-Deluxe album, but in my eyes, it is an absolutely perfect song. More than a replay-button breaker, this is a song that’s stuck with me and will continue to stick with me.

Here - 2:00 AM Version: This version is only on the Deluxe Edition of the album, and the big difference between this version and the original version is that this one is rawer, in that it’s just Alessia and her piano. I like how Alessia has a little more freedom on this track and said freedom only makes me geek out even more because Alessia’s voice is beautiful, and hearing her sing a few more runs makes life even more worth it. I’m not sure if I like this version or the original better, but I can say that both versions are amazing.

River of Tears: Another Deluxe Edition track, this one is really light, and it features some more heartbreaking lyrics and even more beautiful vocals from Alessia. This is another really strong track, and again, it came damn close to making me cry. That’s not easy to do, so kudos, Alessia.

My Song: Ending off the Deluxe Edition of the album is a more upbeat and kind of uplifting song, with another beautiful performance from Alessia and really enjoyable lyrics about Alessia’s music living on long after she’s gone. And I can tell you for sure her music will be remembered, especially this song because it’s really great!

Overall, I’m so glad I ended up loving this album! Alessia Cara is a beautiful vocalist and a really strong lyricist, and she was able to successfully use her talents to create an emotional, beautiful, and at times heartbreaking album filled with extremely memorable, fantastically enjoyable songs. I legitimately love each and every song on this album and listening to this album in its entirety only made me love Alessia that much more: beyond her general likability and personality (as displayed by her interviews and YouTube videos), she really is an incredible, talented, wonderful musician.

Now can we take a moment to bow down to Alessia? Because she really is the Queen of everything!!!!!

Favorite tracks: All of them!

Least favorite tracks: None of them!

Rating: Excellent